Lexmark Outlook Darkens

The Lexington based firm warned that its fourth-quarter results would be lower than expected thanks to weak sales and high restructuring costs.

 Lexmark now thinks its fourth-quarter
sales are going to fall about 17.0%, a bit worse than its previous
previous guidance, which predicted a drop in the low- to mid-teen
range. The decline, the company said, was driven by falling unit
sales and currency rate shifts during the quarter.

The 2009 restructuring plan is expected
to impact about 375 positions and will result in pretax charges of
approximately $45.0 million.